Elk Lakes cabin

The Elk Lakes cabin is an alpine hut located between the French and Italian Military Groups in the Canadian Rockies. It resides near the Continental Divide in Elk Lakes Provincial Park, British Columbia. It is 62 km south of the Trans-Canada Highway in Kananaskis Country, Alberta and 104 km north of Sparwood, British Columbia. The area has hiking trails, and provides access to mountaineering objectives. In winter, ice climbs and skiing terrain with much powder abound. Elk Lakes terrain is similar to that near the Elizabeth Parker hut. The hut is maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada.

Elk Lakes cabin
LocationElk Lakes Provincial Park,  British Columbia,  Canada
Coordinates50°33′3.6″N 115°04′23.4″W
Altitude1,720 m (5,643 ft)
Typealpine hut
Site notes
ArchaeologistsBC Parks
OwnershipAlpine Club of Canada
Public accessReservations required Peter Lougheed Provincial Park or Elk River (British Columbia)
WebsiteOfficial website

The cabin offers easy access and a wide range of hiking, skiing and climbing opportunities. In 2019, BC Parks created a competitive bidding process for operating the cabin.

History

The cabin was built in 1992 to house BC Parks rangers. In 2003, BC Parks issued a request for proposals to convert the cabin to public use. The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) was selected to expand its extensive alpine hut system, and began operating it in the summer of 2004.

Elk Lakes Cabin in Winter

Facilities
Elk Lakes Cabin Interior - Kitchen Area
HeatingWood stove
LightingPropane
CookingPropane oven, range, cookware, dishes and utensils
SleepingDormitory style on foam mattresses
Capacity14
Drinking waterCreek/snow
Human WasteOuthouse
DishwaterGround sump
GarbagePack it out
Heat Wood stove
Elk Lakes Cabin Interior - Living Area

The kitchen area and living room offer tables and a wood-burning stove. The sleeping quarters are in a loft. Sleepers occupy two long bunks and one shorter one.

The hut offers water buckets, axes, saws and shovels.

A tributary of Elkan Creek runs nearby. In winter, water is there and from snowmelt. Water must be purified before drinking.[1]

Sinks are connected to the sump. It occasionally freezes, in which case grey water (strained of food particles) should be dumped within a three-metre radius of the outhouse.

The outhouse is located 10 m east of the cabin. All paper garbage and food scraps should be burned, and all other garbage and unused food carried out.

Necessary supplies
  • Sleeping bag
  • Toilet paper
  • Newspaper for lighting the fire
  • Matches
  • First aid kit
  • 9 volt battery for the smoke detector

Activities

Located within the western ranges of the southern Rocky Mountains, Elk Lakes Provincial Park is an easily accessible wilderness park characterized by subalpine landscapes, remnant glaciers, peaks and lakes.

The area has many hiking options.[2] Options for hikers of all abilities and interests are available, including family friendly backcountry hiking. Other trails are longer, more exposed and involve some route-finding.

Several mountaineering objectives and scrambles are available. Mounts Fox, Aosta, Petain, Nivelle and Castelnau can all be summited in a moderate to long day from the cabin. Mount Joffre is accessible from the Elk Lakes side, although a high camp is recommended for climbers.[3]

The cabin supports backcountry skiing in winter. It is one of the few Canadian Alpine huts that can be reached on cross country skis by advanced skiers. Ski touring ranges from flat tours to advanced ski mountaineering.

The area has several waterfall ice routes and a established mixed climb.[4]

Nearby

Parks Information

Elk Lakes Provincial Park is a BC park. Access from the Alberta side is through Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Parks have rules about dogs, fishing, bicycles and other things. Dogs are not allowed on ski trails, nor inside the cabin. Bikes are allowed on the trail to Elk Pass (in Peter Lougheed Park) and along the power line to the cabin, but not elsewhere in Elk Lakes Park.

Campgrounds are available in both parks, including one a kilometre from the cabin.[5][6]

References
  1. "Drinking Water In The Great Canadian Outdoors". Health Canada. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  2. "Hiking". Elk Lakes Provincial Park. BC Parks. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  3. Boles, Glen W.; Kruszyna, Robert; Putnam, William L. (1979). Rocky Mountains of Canada: South (7th ed.). The American Alpine Club/The Alpine Club of Canada. ISBN 0-930410-08-4.
  4. Josephson, Joe (2002). Waterfall Ice: Climbs in the Canadian Rockies (4th ed.). Rocky Mountain Books. ISBN 0-921102-68-2. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
  5. "Elk Lakes Provincial Park". BC Parks. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  6. "Kananaskis Country - Peter Lougheed Provincial Park". Alberta Parks. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.

Further reading
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